July 2011

July 31, 2011

Texas A&M has turned to the NCAA in hope of using a 17-year-old rules interpretation on the organization’s books to prevent the Longhorn Network from airing high school football games.

CBSSports.com reported tonight that it had obtained documents showing that A&M wants the Longhorn Network to be classified as an “institutional publication,” as defined under bylaw 11.2.3.4. As such, that would make the network an “athletics representative of the institution” and _ theoretically _ would prohibit the airing of high school games.

If the same standard is not applied to the network, A&M officials said in the document, “the NCAA, in allowing institutions to create video-based publication agreements without any restriction on content, is opening Pandora’s box.”

Big 12 athletic directors are scheduled to discuss the implications of the Longhorn Network and future institutional networks at a meeting Monday. NCAA officials have called an Aug. 22 meeting, which Texas officials will attend, to discuss the topic. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Texas men’s athletic director DeLoss Dodds have said plans to broadcast high school games are on hold until the situation is resolved by the NCAA.

July 27, 2011

Four former Texas players, including Mansfield Summit graduate John Chiles, have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Chiles, a receiver, signed with the New Orleans Saints. Other signings announced today include punter John Gold (Seattle), offensive guard Michael Huey (Seattle) and receiver James Kirkendoll (Tennessee).

July 26, 2011

LAS VEGAS -- Receiver Josh Boyce, offensive lineman Kyle Dooley, linebacker Tank Carder and defensive end Stansly Maponga were all named to the Preseason All-Mountain West team Tuesday. Carder was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Newcomer to the league Boise State led all teams with seven preseason selections, including Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Kellen Moore. TCU and Air Force each had four players on the team.-- Stefan Stevenson

LAS VEGAS -- A contingent of Mountain West Conference media predicted TCU to finish second in the league behind Boise State this season. It will be the Broncos first season in the MWC. Horned Frogs' linebacker Tank Carder was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Air Force kick returner Jonathan Warzeka was named the Special Teams Player of the Year.Boise State garnered 28 first-place votes for a total of 236 points. TCU had the three remaining first-place votes and totaled 208 votes. Air Force (176), San Diego State (160), Colorado State (104), Wyoming (80), UNLV (77), and New Mexico (39) round out the predictions.-- Stefan Stevenson

July 25, 2011

DALLAS _ DeLoss Dodds, Texas men’s athletic director, said school officials will take part in an Aug. 22 educational summit arranged by the NCAA to discuss broadcasting high school football games on the Longhorn Network and comparable networks run by schools or conferences.

Dodds said he received an invitation today from Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice-president of academic and membership affairs, to send a three-member contingent to the summit and plans to do so. Until the NCAA provides a go-ahead to televise high school football, no games will be shown on the Longhorn Network, which will debut on Aug. 26.

“We’re not going to violate any rules,” Dodds said. “We’re not going to jump into something and not know the outcome (from an NCAA standpoint).”

The idea of showing live high school games on Texas’ subscription-based network has drawn the ire of fellow Big 12 administrators and coaches who believe showing such contests would give the Longhorns a recruiting advantage. Big 12 athletic directors plan to discuss the topic at an Aug. 1 meeting.

“It’s a lack of common sense to think that the network can … have high school games on their network,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “To me, there’s no common sense there.”

Dodds provided documentation showing the summit will address “NCAA member and conference networks broadcasting youth sports,” a session that would be applicable to other schools or leagues with similar plans to televise high school events in their areas.

Asked if he thought the Aug. 22 summit would lead to a binding NCAA decision on televising high school games, Dodds said: “No, I really don’t. But I hope they do … It’s going to take a while to get their arms around (the issue).”

July 15, 2011

Four quarterbacks from Big 12 schools, as well as two finalists from last season, head the list of 38 players on the watch list for the 2011 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Members of the watch list, announced today, include 2010 finalists Andrew Luck (Stanford) and Kellen Moore (Boise State). A 2009 finalist, Houston’s Case Keenum, also is on the list after receiving a medical redshirt for a knee injury suffered last season.

Four quarterbacks from Big 12 schools, as well as two finalists from last season, head the list of 38 players on the watch list for the 2011 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Members of the watch list, announced today, include 2010 finalists Andrew Luck (Stanford) and Kellen Moore (Boise State). A 2009 finalist, Houston’s Case Keenum, also is on the list after receiving a medical redshirt for a knee injury suffered last season.

July 14, 2011

San Antonio Reagan quarterback Trevor Knight, a 2012 recruit, has switched his verbal commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners from Texas A&M, the Tulsa World reports.

Knight had committed to Texas A&M in March. In April, the Aggies received a commitment from Matt Davis of Klein Forest, who is ranked No. 5 on Rivals.com's list of dual-threat quarterbacks for high school players entering their senior season. Verbal commitments can't be made binding until February 2012.

Oklahoma had been in the running for the consensus No. 1-ranked quarterback recruit, pro-style QB Gunner Kiel of Columbus, Ind. But according to the Tulsa World, recruiting analysts have Kiel pegged for Alabama or Indiana. Former Oklahoma assistant Kevin Wilson is now head coach at Indiana.

Among players ranked behind Kiel on the Rivals pro-style list are No. 4 Connor Brewer of Scottsdale, Ariz., who has committed to Texas, and TCU Horned Frogs pledge and eighth-ranked Tyler Matthews of McPherson, Kan.